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Big Papi ejected, slams bat against dugout phone

Big Papi ejected, slams bat against dugout phone

7/27/13: David Ortiz strikes out, then argues with the umpire, smashes the dugout phone with his bat and is ejected for his display

By Ian Browne
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MLB.com |

BALTIMORE -- Red Sox slugger David Ortiz boiled over during Saturday night's 7-3 win over the Orioles, slamming his bat against a dugout phone after he felt home-plate umpire Tim Timmons missed some calls during his strikeout in the top of the seventh.

Ortiz was then ejected, and came storming out of the dugout. He was restrained by manager John Farrell and bench coach Tory Luvullo, which could end up helping him avoid a suspension.

"You're angry, you're going all over the place, your mind is processing some [stuff], it's not good," said Ortiz. "That's why you've got your manager and your teammates holding ground, you know, trying to get you calm but that's what it is, man -- that's what it is."

Dustin Pedroia was just inches away from the spot where Ortiz slammed his bat, but managed to avoid the flying splinters.

When Ortiz returned to the dugout, Pedroia had some words with him.

What Pedroia was most concerned with was Ortiz calming himself so he wouldn't risk discipline from Major League Baseball.

"Guys get frustrated, it's part of the game," Pedroia said. "I just wanted to make sure that David didn't get too bad to where he gets suspended or any of that. But no, that's part of the game. I mean, he's the biggest part of our lineup. We can't lose David for one game. I was trying to get to him.

"I'm sure it looked pretty funny, smallest guy out there yelling at the biggest guy. It's part of the game. I go down there and snap sometimes. But it happens."

The 3-0 pitch to Ortiz looked high. The 3-1 pitch also looked like it was off the plate. Ortiz then swung at a low pitch on 3-2 for the strikeout.

On his way back to the dugout, he angrily gestured to the bill of his helmet, noting to Timmons that the 3-0 offering was high.

"All I've got to tell you is I've got 17 years in the league and I don't think I deserve to be disrespected like that," Ortiz said. "If you want to get respect from the players, you respect the players. That was horrible. Both of the pitches, not one. These people been semi-intentionally walking me all night. I don't mind going to first base, so what was the reason you've got to call pitches like that a strike?

"It was a ball that if the catcher let it go, it would have hit him in the face. The funny thing is he wanted to act like it was the right call. No, I don't play that. I don't pitch, I don't play defense, I hit. You're not going to take my at-bat away from me. Period."

Farrell doesn't think Ortiz did anything to warrant a suspension.

"I would hope not," Farrell said. "I would hope they'd review the whole situation from start to finish. There's probably some reason as to why things ended up the way they did."

By the time the game ended, Ortiz was still upset with Timmons.

"When I was walking away I was telling him he was acting like he wanted to be right about the call," said Ortiz. "'No you weren't, you weren't right, the whole planet saw you weren't right. So don't be giving me that [nonsense]. If you miss it, just tell me, 'I missed it' and I'll walk away. I have no problem with that. You're not perfect, you're human, but don't try to act like it was the right call. It was ball four."

Ian Browne is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Brownie Points, and follow him on Twitter @IanMBrowne. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.